NBCUniversal Gets the Broadcast and Cable Rights to the Harry Potter Franchise

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Even if Harry Potter’s story is “done,” according to J.K. Rowling, the franchise will live on in the varied horcruxes of capitalism. NBCUniversal has picked up the exclusive U.S. broadcast and cable rights to the Harry Potter films, starting in July 2018 and running through 2025. The deal includes access to all eight original Potter movies, as well as the upcoming Fantastic Beasts films, which will air primarily on USA and Syfy. The deal also incorporates fan events at Universal’s Harry Potter World theme parks in Orlando, Hollywood, and Osaka, Japan, as well as initiatives with Pottermore, which provides a never-ending flow of continuing Potter content. The Wall Street Journal estimates that the deal could be valued as much as $250 million, making it one of the biggest ever for a film franchise. Today’s young-adult book adaptations could never hope to compete.